7 Best Monofilament Fishing Line For 2024: That Will Always Perform

In a world slowly moving to braid as a more popular main line, the monofilament fishing line still holds a significant place in the fishing world.

• Monofilament fishing lines are favored for their stretch, flexibility, and general applicability.
• Mono is the cheapest and most widely used fishing line option.
• The right monofilament line selection can significantly influence fishing success.

Join me as we look at the best monofilament lines on the market today so you can ensure you’re fishing with a high-quality, reliable option for every fishing scenario.

The Top Picks For Monofilament Fishing Line

• Berkley Trilene Big Game Monofilament Fishing Line – Our Best Overall Pick!
• Stren MagnaThin Monofilament Fishing Line – Our Best For Carp Fishing
• Hurricane Monofilament Saltwater Fishing Line – Our Best Budget Line!
• Ande Monofilament Line – Our Best Offshore Budget Line! 
• Berkley Trilene XL Monofilament Fishing Line
• KastKing World’s Premium Monofilament Fishing Line
• SpiderWire Ultracast Ultimate Monofilament Fishing Line

Berkley Trilene Big Game Monofilament Fishing Line – Our Best Overall Pick!

​​Berkley Trilene Big Game Monofilament Fishing Line is, without a doubt, one of the most popular and trusted monofilament lines on the market, and it’s good for everything. 

This versatile line is ideal for freshwater and saltwater fishing and ranges in pound tests from 11 lbs to 110 lbs, meaning you can use it to spool everything from your carp reels to your marlin reels. 

The Trilene big game is as strong and durable as the pound test says it is, meaning you can trust the line will break when it’s meant to and thus adjust your drag settings accordingly. 

It’s a line of average diameter for excellent abrasion resistance, so it’s great for fishing around sharp rocks. It has the perfect amount of stretch, enough to hook soft-mouthed fish like carp but not too much so you can pull bass out of snags. 

Big Game is easy to tie knots, which hold well and are strong. You’ll also love the low memory of the line that ensures you don’t get into any more tangles than you need to. 

Overall, it’s hard to fault this line, and it’s even an affordable option; the only downside is that it only comes in one clear color option, providing less visibility for fish.  If you are unsure which line to choose when going bass fishing, this mono is your best option.

Pros

• Excellent for all forms of fishing 
• Durable and super strong 
• Very abrasion-resistant for fishing around structure 
• Controlled stretch for increased bite sensitivity
• Enough stretch for soft-mouthed fish 
• Low memory for minimal tangles 
• Very high knot strength
• Great for long casts
• It comes in a range of pound tests 
• Super affordable for the quality 

Cons

• It only comes in one color 

Key Attributes 

Pound Test(s): 11 – 110 lbs 

Colors: Clear 

Diameter: 0.24 mm (11 lb)

Length On Spool: 1000 meters 

Stren MagnaThin Monofilament Fishing Line – Our Best For General Carp Fishing!

Stren MagnaThin is the perfect mono for freshwater fishing for species like carp, as it’s packed with all the right features for these soft-mouthed fish. 

The diameter-to-strength ratio of this mono is excellent, meaning it’s thinner than most for its respective breaking strains. This means a lot for us fishermen as it increases the line capacity of our reels, provides a better sink rate, and reduces drag in every direction, meaning longer casting distances, too. 

The thin diameter also makes the line less visible in the water to help you get more bites, and when you get the bites, the low stretch ensures the line is sensitive enough to pick up every one of them. You’ll miss fewer fish than ever using this line. 

The MagnaThin is also super tough and durable, meaning it lasts and can handle running past a few snags. It’s flexible for easy knot tying, knots seat well, and it is a strong mono. It even comes in a large range of colors so you can match it to your fishing situation. 

The range of pound tests available for Stren MagnaThin Line is limited, and the range covers 4 lb to 16 lb, which is great for carp fishing throughout the United States but not saltwater scenarios. It’s also a pretty expensive line, but it’s worth it for the quality that you get. 

Note: If you are looking for a mono line specifically for large specimen carp, look at my head-to-head review between the Fox Exocet and the Gardner GT-HD. These two lines are exceptional for carp fishing, although they are somewhat expensive.

Pros

• A smaller diameter creates a better sink rate and less drag
• Thin for more subtle presentations 
• Excellent for long casting distances 
• Increases your reel’s line capacity 
• Super tough and strong
• Abrasion-resistant and solid knot strength
• It comes in a range of colors 
• Solid range of pound tests for carp 
• Low stretch for more bite sensitivity 

Cons

• Quite expensive 
• Only available in lighter pound tests of 16 lbs & below 

Key Attributes 

Pound Test(s): 4 – 16 lb

Colors: Clear, Moss Green, Walleye 

Diameter: 0.17 mm (4 lb)

Length On Spool: 330 yards 

Hurricane Monofilament Saltwater Fishing Line – Our Best Saltwater Budget Line!

If you’re shopping on a budget for your saltwater line, you might want to check out the Hurricane monofilament saltwater line. This line is incredibly affordable and lives up to its pound test ratings, but being less expensive also reduces some performance features. 

This Hurricane monofilament line only comes in one color, clear, which gives it low visibility to ensure fish don’t see it. It’s also very flexible and easy to tie, and when the knots are seated well, they hold together when fighting a big fish. 

Built into the mono is a great amount of stretch that reduces bite sensitivity, but it does help a lot with fish that jump and pull hard and keep hooks in soft mouths. 

It’s not too thick for an affordable line, but it’s this thickness that also helps it be abrasion-resistant, allowing you to fish around sharp bottom features without any concern. 

This line does have some downsides, though, the main one being its memory, which can cause some tangles now and then. The low bite sensitivity might also be a little annoying to some anglers. The spools are huge, though; if you buy the 15 lb, you get 1750 yards of it!

Pros

• Incredibly affordable 
• Huge spools in a range of sizes 
• It suits all forms of fishing, from spinning to offshore 
• Low visibility and easy to tie knots  
• Great knot strength 
• Thick and abrasion-resistant for fishing around sharp areas 
• A good amount of stretch for larger fish 

Cons

• Not as strong as others 
• Has some memory and can tangle 
• Not very sensitive compared to others 
• It only comes in one color 

Key Attributes 

Pound Test(s): 15 – 60 lb 

Colors: Clear 

Diameter: NA

Length On Spool: 1750 – 460 Yards 

Ande Monofilament Line – Our Best Offshore Budget Line!

Ande monofilament line is surprisingly affordable and of reliable, good quality, which goes against the fishing world’s theme of more money = better products. 

In this instance, the Ande mono we are looking at comes in a spool of 400 yards of 60 lb line, which is a great line for offshore fishing, especially if you want to fill a few reels on a budget. 

The Ande mono is clear for low visibility in the water, so fish don’t spook when you fish with it. It’s also nice and flexible to make knot-tying easier, and when they seat, they stay strong and can handle a fight. 

It’s got quite a solid diameter and a good amount of stretch, so it handles big fish jumping and shaking their heads well while also being tough and abrasion-resistant. It also has little memory so that tangles won’t be an issue. 

Overall, this is an excellent mono line for offshore fishing that is reliable and affordable for anyone on a budget.

Pros

• Great for offshore fishing 
• Excellent quality that lasts
• It has very low visibility 
• Flexible, easy to tie, great knot strength
• Abrasion-resistant for fishing in rocky areas 
• Incredibly affordable for the quality 
• Soft and low memory for fewer tangles 

Cons

• None 

Key Attributes 

Pound Test(s): For various breaking strains, 60 lbs is the best for offshore fishing 

Colors: Clear 

Diameter: NA 

Length On Spool: 400 yards 

Berkley Trilene XL Monofilament Fishing Line

If you’re looking for an excellent monofilament line and don’t mind splashing some cash on it, then the ​Berkley Trilene XL Monofilament Fishing Line is a good option. 

This very versatile line can be used in all waters, from fresh to saltwater, and is at its happiest when being cast. The low memory and thus lack of twists and kinks means it comes out smooth off the spool, and you’ll have a tangle-free life out on the water. 

You’ll find the Trilene XL mono is very strong and always breaks a little above its labeled pound test so that you can trust your drag settings. It’s also abrasion-resistant despite the small diameter, meaning it will handle fishing around snags and mangroves. 

Its smaller diameter also means you can get more line on your reel with this mono; you’ll have better sink rates and longer casting distances, and it’s much harder for the fish to see. The low stretch adds a ton of bite sensitivity and pulling power to this mono, making it great for various species. 

This Berkley XL mono line is available in four different colors, and the clear options are incredibly low vis, but it does come at a high price. 

Pros

• Super low visibility in certain colors 
• Low stretch mono for more sensitivity 
• Not much memory for reduced tangles 
• It doesn’t create twists or kinks 
• Excellent tensile strength 
• Small diameter for better sink rates and casting distances 
• You’ll get a lot of it on your reel
• Great abrasion resistance 
• Versatile for use in all forms of fishing  

Cons

• Pretty expensive 

Key Attributes 

Pound Test(s): 6 – 30 lbs 

Colors: Low-Vis Green, Clear, Green, Fluorescent Blue Clear 

Diameter: 0.23 mm (6 lbs)

Length On Spool: 110 to 1000 yards 

KastKing World’s Premium Monofilament Fishing Line

KastKing World’s Premium Monofilament is another good option if you’re looking for a budget mono for any of your reels. 

One thing about this line that is mind-blowing is the number of colors it is available in! Kastking even has a black or red option. That being said, colorful lines are only useful in some specific situations, and, of course, they have a clear option for low visibility. 

The pound test range is also great, starting at 4 lbs for trout fishing all the way up to 30 lbs for inshore and larger freshwater species. It also has a smaller diameter to reduce drag in the air and increase sink rates, plus ensure fish struggle to see it, of course. 

In terms of strength, this line is average and usually breaks at the set pound test, but in some instances, it has been reported to have broken way before, and thus, it’s a little unreliable regarding tensile strength. 

The abrasion resistance is pretty solid, though, and the minimal stretch of the mono makes for good hook-ups and bite sensitivity. Plus, you’ll be able to stop the likes of bass and snook from going into snags. Kastking Premium is a very popular line for bass fishing and also one of the best sellers.

Pros

• Very affordable for the quality 
• It comes in a huge range of colors 
• Excellent range of pound tests 
• Works for freshwater and light saltwater fishing 
• Low memory and low absorption for stiffer line 
• The small diameter increases the sinking rate and lowers the drag 
• Super low-vis in its clear color 
• Great knot strength and abrasion resistance 
• Low stretch for better hook sets and more control 

Cons

• Not the strongest 
• Not that reliable 

Key Attributes 

Pound Test(s): 4 – 30 lbs 

Colors: Yellow, Green, Red, Black, Blue, Clear, Pink

Diameter: 0.50 mm (30 lbs)

Length On Spool: 300 or 600 yards 

SpiderWire Ultracast Ultimate Monofilament Fishing Line

SpiderWire Ultracast Ultimate differs slightly from the other monofilament lines featured as it’s made from a copolymer instead of nylon. 

SpiderWire claims their line is 30% stronger using copolymer, but I’m not sure this is 100% true. There are many instances where this line has broken below its indicated breaking strain, but other times when it hasn’t; whilst it may be a relatively strong line, its consistency, in my opinion, is unproven. 

Ultracast features low stretch for increased bite sensitivity and more pulling power against stunning fish. The low diameter also assists with casting distances and the sink rate, making it harder for fish to see. 

You can tie knots quickly and easily with this line, and they are super strong when they seat perfectly. The biggest issue with this line is its long, intense memory that causes many anglers many tangles. 

While the Spiderwire Ultracst is affordable and has some notable features, its unreliability, and large memory make it one to be slightly concerned about. Your money is possibly better spent on one of the more reliable mono lines with less memory featured above. 

Pros

• Copolymer for extra strength 
• 30% more tensile strength than normal mono
• Minimal stretch for better bite sensitivity and hook sets 
• Low diameter gives your reels a larger line capacity 
• Good sink rate and low visibility 
• Easy to tie with and solid knot strength 
• Great abrasion-resistance
• Super affordable 

Cons

• Loads of memory and can create tangles 
• Strength ratings are not reliable 

Key Attributes 

Pound Test(s): 4 – 20 lbs 

Colors: Clear 

Diameter: 0.40mm (20 lb)

Length On Spool: 270/300/330 yards 

What Are The Pros & Cons Of Monofilament Line?

Monofilament is the most common fishing line form and has excellent all-round features. It is made from a single strand of nylon, making it the easiest line for manufacturers to produce.

Here are its main positive features:

• Great abrasion resistance 
• Lots of stretch 
• Easy to tie knots with 
• Strong 
• Good knot strength 
• Low visibility 
• Affordability 
• Low memory 

But the cons are: 

• Thick diameter 
• Too much stretch 
• Low bite sensitivity 
• Not fully invisible 

Mono is great when you need a lot of strength and stretch, for example, when fighting big fish like tuna. It is also easy to work with and is good on spinning reels, but the large diameter reduces how much line you can squeeze on the spool and reduces your casting distance. 

Considerations When Buying Monofilament Line

Abrasion Resistance

Abrasion resistance is particularly important if you fish in areas with sharp bottoms and snags often. If your monofilament line doesn’t handle abrasion well, one nick on an oyster bed during a fight with a fish could mean a lost fish, something no one wants. 

Strength & Pound Test 

We all want our monofilament line to be strong, but more importantly, it should match its pound test-breaking strain. This allows you to set your drag settings based on your line and thus guarantee that your line doesn’t break in the fight. 

Stretch

Stretch is a helpful tool in some ways and not others, so a balance of a bit of stretch but not too much is what you’re looking for. Stretch lets big fish like marlin jump and shake their heads without coming off, but low stretch also means better hook sets and more bite sensitivity. 

Choosing the Right Thickness

The thickness of the monofilament line, or its diameter, is measured in the pound test, which indicates the strength of the line. The general guidelines for choosing the appropriate thickness is as follows:

• Light fishing: For smaller fish, a thinner and lighter line, such as a 2-4 pound test, is often sufficient.
• General purpose: An 8-10 pound test line may be ideal for medium-sized fish and various conditions.
• Heavy duty fishing: A thicker line of 12-25 pound test is advisable for larger species and rough conditions.

Selecting an appropriate thickness also influences the line’s visibility in the water, casting distance, and overall manageability.

You’ll have noticed that I have gone on about line diameter quite a lot in the above reviews, and this is because it makes a big difference. 

A thinner line also allows you to add more line to your reel. It creates less drag in the air for better casting distances and reduces drag in the water, so it sinks faster. These are all highly desirable features for your line, but be sure that the thin diameter doesn’t affect the line’s abrasion resistance and general strength.

Which Color Fishing Line Is Best?

Line color is only important if the fish sees the line; therefore, choosing a clear line is always best. 

But, if you’re trolling, for example, the main line doesn’t go into the water; the leader does. Therefore, picking a color is more about visibility, and colors like pink, red, and yellow are easy for humans to see. 

Cost Vs. Quality

If there is one last piece of extra advice I have for you, it’s to not scrimp on the line you choose and pick one that is good quality and will last – saving a few bucks is never worth losing some fish. 

What To Do Next? 

Thanks very much for reading my article; I hope you enjoyed it and that you have found the right monofilament lines for your purpose and budget.

Please share the article with your fishing buddies and check out some of our many other fishing articles. Check out my guides on the best braided line or best fluorocarbon line, which will give you a better understanding of all the line options available.